The Main Findings Concerning the Triglav Glacier in the Years (1963—1973)

Abstract

The Triglav glacier lies on the northern slope of the Triglav mountain (2863 m), in the Julian Alps, at an altitude from 2390—2560 m. Since 1964 this glacier has been measured at the end of each melting period (September or October). The results of these studies up to 1962 have already been published. For this reason our present report covers the period of 11 years only from 1963 to 1973. During these years the glacier receded at its lower end on an average of 11.24 m, and it grew thinner for 4,70—5,20 m. The greatest recession took place in the years 1964 and 1967, and the least recession in 1965 when the glacier remained covered with snow during the whole summer. These results show that during the period 1963—1973 the recession of the glacier was slower than during the preceding periods of observation. While in the years 1946—1954 the average yearly recession was 2.21 m, and in the years 1955—1962 about 2.40 m, its yearly recession in the period 1963—1973 was 1.02 m only. The total surface of the glacier decreased during the first period from 14.37 ha (in 1946) to 12.66 ha (in 1954), during the second period to 12.13 ha (in 1962), and during the third period to 11.90 ha (in 1973). The main reason — besides other climatic elements — for the slow recession during the last years has been the increased quantity of snow during the cooler seasons.